Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-02-09

Wdlheo W LILO HlltuoWi auo louialhco olieI1,
looking into the darkness Suddenly he
turned bitterly to his companion.
This Is just h-ll, George"
George Lee, with smile still on his boyish
face, lazily moved his head.
u don't know If it wasn't for the old
woman. who is the one solid chunk Of abso-
lutte goodness here, expecting nothing, want
ing nothing, it would be good fun enoughl
These two women, cooped up in this house,
wanted excitement. They've got it! That
man Hale wanted to show off by going for
us; he'shad his chance, and will have it again
before I've done with him. That id fool Of
messenger wanted to go out Of his way to
exchange shots with me; reckon he's the
most satisfied of the lot! I don't know why
you should growl. You did your level best
to get away from here, and the result is that
little Puritan is ready to worship you"
"Yesbut this playing it on them-George
f>ss'' '-'''ass' i.'sss
aWhos playing its Not you; 1 see you've
given away our names already"
u couldn't lie, and they know nothing by
that"
"Do you think they would be happier by
knowing it' Do you think that soft little
creature would be as happy as she was to-
night if she knew that her husband had been
indirectly the means Of laying me by the
heels here: Where is the swindle' This
hole in my leg! If you had been five min.
utes under that girls id sympathetic
fingers you'd have thought it was genuine.
Is it in our trying to get awaya Do you call
it in the chance Of Hale getting back while
we're here? That's real enough, isn't it!
say, Ned, did you ever give your unfettered
intellect to the contemplation of thatl"
Falkner did not reply. There was an in
terval of silence, but he could see from the
movement of Georges shoulders that he was
shaking with suppressed laughter.
Fancy Mrs. Hale archly introducing her
husband! My Offering him chair, but be-
ing all the time obliged to cover him with Q
derringer under the bedclothes. Your rush
ing in from your peaceful pastoral pursuits
in tho barn, with pitchfork i'll one hand
and the girl i'll the other, and dear old
nanny sympathizing all round and trying
to make everything comfortable"
II should not be alive to see it, George"
said Falkner, gloomily.
"You'd manage to pitchforlt me and those
two women on Hales horse and ride away;
that's what you'd do, or I don't know you!
Look here, Ned" he added, moro seriously,
"the only swindling was our bringing that
note here. That was your idea. You thought
it would remove suspicion, and as you be-
lieved was bleeding to death you played
that game for all it was worth to save me.
You might have done what asked you to do
--propped me up in the bushes and got away
yourself. was good for a couple Of shots
yet and after that-what mattered' That
night, the next day. the next time take the
road, or year nence? 1t will come when it
will come, all the same!"
He did not speak bitterly, nor relax his
smile. Falkner, without speaking, slid his
hand along the coverlet. Lee grasped it, and
their hands remained clasped together for q
few moments in silence.
eHow is this to endi We cannot 60 on
here in this way" said Falkner suddenly.
"1f we cannot get away it must 60 on.
Look here, Ned l don't reckon to take any
thing out of this house that didn't bring in
it, or isn't freely offered to me; yet don't,
otherwise, you understand, intend making
myself out id bit better than I am
That's the only excuse I have for not making
myself out just what I am. I don't know
the fellow who's obliged to tell every one the
last company he was in or the last thing he
did! Do You suppose even these pretty little
women tell us their whole story! Do you
fancy that this st. John in the wilderness is
canonizcd in his family! Perhaps, when
take tho liberty to intrudo in his affairs, as
he has III mine, he'd see he isn't. don't
blame you for being sensitive, Ned. It's
natural When man lives outside the re-
vised statutes Of his own state be is apt to be
awfully tinc on points Of etiquette in his own
household. As for me, I find it rather COM
Portable here. The beds OF other peoples
making strike me as being more satisfactory
than my own. Good night"
In few moments he was sleeping the
peaceful sleep Of that youth which seemed to
be his own dominant quality. Falkner stood
for little space and watched him, following
the boyiSh lines of his cheek on the pillow,
Il, - 1irY1,%
under his closed lids to the lifting of his short
upper lip over his white teeth with his regu-
lar respiration. Only sharp accenting of
the line of nosrril and jaw and faint de-
preston of the temple betrayed his already
tried manhood.
The house had long sunk to repose when
Falkncr returned to tho window, and re-
NAMED looking out upon the storm. Sud
denly hc cxting,lised the light, and passing
quickly to the bed laid his hand upon the
sleeper. Lee opened his eyes instantly.
"Are you awake!'
"Perfectly."
"Somebody is trying to get into the house"
"Not him, eh?" said Lee gayly.
"No; two men. Mexicans, think. One
looks like Manuel"
"Ah," said Lee, drawing himself up to a
sitting posture.
"Welm
"Don't you see! He believes the women
are alone"
1.-THE dog-d-d hound!"
"Speak respectfully Of one Of my people,
if you please, and hand me my derringer
Light tho candle again and open the door,
Let them get in quietly. They'll come here
first. It's his room, you understand, and if
there's any money it's here. Any way, they
must pass here to get to tho women's rooms
Leave Manuel to me and you take care Of
the other"
81 see."
manuel knows the house and will come
first. When he's fairly in the room shut the
door and go for the other. But no noise
This is just one Of the sweetest things out
if it's done properly"
"But you, Georges"
"If couldn't manage that fellow without
turning down the bedchothes I'd kick myself.
Hush. Steady now"
He lay down and shut his eyes as if in
natural repose. Only his right hand, care
lessly placed under his pillow, closed on the
L. ,<,fl L.,